Josh Emil PALAD
BSIT - 1E
1.PhilippinesThe lack of unquestionable evidence that religious orders rather than secular institutions
predominated in the Philippines' governing structure during the Spanish era can be attributed to several
factors like Conflict between religious orders and secular priests: There were two kinds of priests serving
the Catholic Church in the Philippines during the Spanish era - the regulars and the seculars. Regular
priests belonged to religious orders and were mainly tasked with spreading Christianity. On the other
hand, secular priests were trained specifically to run the parishes and were under the supervision of the
bishops. Conflict arose when bishops insisted on visiting parishes run by regular priests, leading to a
controversy known as the secularization controversy. Interplay of power and wealth: Religious orders
held significant tracts of land, granted by the Spanish government, and were deeply implicated in the
exploitation of Filipinos. By the late Spanish colonial period, the Catholic orders and their friars were the
wealthiest and most politically powerful elements within Filipino society. Nationalism and Independence
Movements: Spanish friars were seen as representing the hegemonic power of the Spanish government
and foreign Catholic Church, while native priests pushed for greater authority in Filipino parishes. Both
the Spanish government and the orders blocked efforts by local priests, cultivating a nationalist Filipino
priesthood that would support and be supported by the efforts of the 19th-century nationalist
movement. Lack of Centralized Religious Institutions: Catholicism rapidly spread during the early years
of Spanish colonialism, in part due to a lack of otherwise centralized religious institutions, other than
Islam in the south, which might have challenged it. Influence of the American Colonial Period: The
coupling of the Catholic Church and Philippine state proved a challenge for the incoming Americans,
who promoted a policy of absolute separation between church and state.Role of Islam: The constitution
provides explicit concession to Islam, whose adherents consist of a minority in the Philippines, when it
comes to state neutrality.In conclusion the interplay of religious orders and secular institutions in the
governance of the Philippines during the Spanish era was complex and multifaceted, making it difficult
to provide unquestionable evidence of one predominating over the other.
2. Religious organizations have historically had a significant impact on the politics and government of the
Philippines. These groups have been involved in electoral politics, including the selection of candidates
and church members who have run in elections themselves. For instance, the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of
Christ), known for its tradition of bloc voting, has allegedly supported presidential candidates
throughout history. Similarly, other religious groups like the Jesus Is Lord movement and the Pilipino
Movement for Transformational Leadership have also engaged in political activities. Religious groups
have played pivotal roles in major political events. Notably, Jaime Cardinal Sin's call for Filipinos to
support the revolt against President Ferdinand E. Marcos via a church-owned radio is considered a
significant trigger for the People Power Revolution. However, the political endorsements of religious
groups have not always been successful. For instance, several of the Iglesia Ni Cristo's endorsed
candidates have faced corruption charges or lost elections. The Catholic Church, while not directly
endorsing political candidates, encourages voters to vote according to their conscience. It has also
remained a powerful opposing force on issues such as the reproductive health bill and divorce.
